With a former Alliance at large councilman's announcement Wednesday that he intends to throw his hat into the ring for the council presidency, Steve Okey also vowed to dismiss an Open Meetings Act lawsuit against that board.

Via an email statement, Okey, who also served as a president pro tem under Benincasa, said, "It would be a conflict of interest to continue the court action, even though I remain confident that the court action was an important step to ensure that City Council obeys the law and keeps all of its official actions open to the people it serves."

He continued, "The court action was never about council members as individuals, but only about their official obligations to the public. As president, I will be able to do my part to ensure that council is on the right side of the law. John Benincasa's legacy is service and leadership. I hope to live up to the example he set."

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As of Wednesday afternoon, Law Director Jennifer Arnold was still awaiting rescheduling of a status conference that was postponed Tuesday due to a death in the family of Warren Price, Okey's attorney on the case and also a former Alliance councilman.

She expressed disappointment that the city might not have its day in court after Okey's efforts to prove a point.

"I am still convinced that (Mr. Okey's) lawsuit was a political vehicle rather than (the public) interest to serve the Ohio Sunshine Laws. And this most recent development further demonstrates this. I believe if the court would have heard this case, it would have ruled in (my clients') favor," Arnold said.

Lawrence Dordea, R-3, who was appointed by council to serve as president pro tem at the start of the year in Benincasa's absence, is gearing up as the Republican nomination for Stark County sheriff against appointed Sheriff George Maier, an Okey political ally.

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Dordea acknowledged the irony of Okey's dismissal of the "self-described 'non-political' lawsuit because it appears to conflict with his political aspirations."

"I hope the Democratic Central Committee of Alliance gives careful consideration to the candidates who have applied to fill Benincasa's shoes," Dordea said.

In addition to Ryan, both Okey and Loy, who are political allies of Maier, have expressed their intention to pursue the council presidency. It is unknown if Loy would defer to Okey.

However, Ryan welcomes the competitive nature of the slate.

"It is good to know that there are so many willing to serve the people of Alliance. It is my hope that John's legacy of service and leadership, as well as his example of partisanship ending at the council chamber door, will be maintained."

Dordea agreed that over the past several years, council enjoyed service "without controversy and conflict in a bipartisan manner," even having a joint swearing-in ceremony going into this year.

"Integrity is one of the most important characteristics in a council president, and that is why I wholeheartedly support Sue Ryan for the job," he said.